13th August 2013

Jett hopes to follow in granddad's footsteps - From Warwick Daily News

Jett Johnson, grandson of legendary racer Dick Johnson, in action

THE Johnson racing number 17 is being used by a third generation, eight-year-old Jett, who hopes success in karting can make him a professional motor racing driver.

Jett was one of 96 drivers in the Queensland Junior Top Gun Meeting at Sandy Creek Raceway at the weekend.

He is the son of Steve Johnson, who has six top-four finishes at Bathurst and grandson of Dick Johnson, who has won Bathurst three times and five touring car championships.

Dick has driven Fords all his career just like he has driven with number 17 on the door since the late 1970s and it was the same with Steve.

Steve said when Jett started karting with P plates at the age of seven last year, he told his son to select his own numbers.

“Jett insisted he wanted to be number 17,” Steve said.

He is a member of the Gold Coast Kart Club, but also races at Warwick where he was third in the P plate class in the top gun meeting last year.

“Warwick is one of my favourite tracks,” Jett said.

“I want to win a lot on go karts and then drive in the V8 Supercars or NASCAR series,” he said.

Steve said his own commitments meant Jett could not compete every weekend.

“Jett loves the family doing stuff together, grandfather is everything to Jett,” he said.

At times, Steve, wife Bree and their children all spent three days in Warwick for karting competitions and are sometimes joined by Dick.

The Johnsons are not the only high-profile racing family involved in karting at Sandy Creek.

V8 Supercar driver Glenn Seton’s son Aaron was second in the Jmax class at the weekend behind winner Nick Andrews. Warwick pair Nic Lane and Daniel Plant both recorded thirds in the top gun series.

Warwick Karting Club president Peter Lane said Jett would develop into a good driver.

“The presence of the Johnsons and Glenn Seton at kart meetings is a boost to spectators. They are very obliging when fans ask them for autographs,” Lane said.

The Warwick Karting Club races again on September 8.